CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Re: Definition of “Deposit”; Stored Value Cards Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Our institution is located in the northwest portion of Oklahoma in a primarily agricultural area. We are in the largest city in our region and we are the largest local financial institution in our city. At our last quarterly statement, we were $350 million in assets. In a continuing effort to find ways to meet the needs of the un-banked segment of our community, we have taken a great interest in the emerging Stored Value Card (SVC) product. It is in this light that we will respond to the “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking”. Potential Stored Value products include: payroll cards, gift cards, child support payments, other social service payments, student cards, gift cards (closed loop cards are not part of this discussion) and internet purchase cards. In marketing these new products, deposit insurance is an important issue that will bring additional value and confidence to this product. By their very design, most SVC’s have limits on the value that can be loaded on them. In addition, many of the target audiences will not be of sufficient means to maintain large balances and these balances may represent a significant portion of the assets of the individual cardholder. Hence, the value of FDIC insurance. Where funds are placed at a financial institution on behalf of cardholders, when the cardholders can be identified, the FDIC insurance should apply to the individual cardholder's portion of the funds. Individual cardholder funds that are held in a pooled funds account are tracked by card number in sophisticated databases. Because the SVC uses conventional ATM/debit card networks, ATM transactions and payments to merchants are processed the same way that a debit card transaction is processed. To the consumer, the way a SVC and a Debit Card are used should be the same. Disclosures as to error resolution procedures, fees, card expiration, fund recovery procedures, limitations on card activity and the like are important and can be included with the card upon its issuance. Subsequent paper disclosures may become problematic, and alternate methods of distribution would need to be studied. The proposed rule, as written, clarifies the definition of this product. However, as the Stored Value Card System continues to develop, there may be difficulties in obtaining clear guidance for coverage. It would be unfortunate to render this rule out of date as the technology continues to evolve. Therefore, the FDIC should adopt the proposed rule with these changes: • Broaden the definition beyond cards usable at merchant POS terminals. Sincerely,
Mickie L. Giberson |
Last Updated: August 20, 2024